1980–81 Los Angeles Lakers season



The 1980-81 NBA season was the Lakers' 33rd season in the NBA and the 21st season in Los Angeles. The Lakers were attempting to become the first team since 1969 to repeat as NBA Champions. Despite missing Magic Johnson for 45 games due to a knee injury, the Lakers still managed an impressive 54-28 record during the regular season, and they were the #3 seed heading into the Western Conference playoffs. However, the underdog Houston Rockets eliminated the Lakers in a best-of-three first round series two games to one.

NBA draft
The Lakers did not have a first-round pick in the 1980 Draft. Their first selection was Wayne Robinson, the 31st pick overall, but he never played a game for the Lakers. Future NBA Coach Butch Carter was their second selection at #37 overall.

Roster Notes

 * Shooting guard Magic Johnson missed 45 games during the season after suffering a torn cartilage in his left knee on November 18 during a game against the Kansas City Kings.

Season standings
Notes
 * z, y – division champions
 * x – clinched playoff spot

Regular season

 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 1
 * October 10
 * @ Seattle
 * W 99-98
 * Jamaal Wilkes (22)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * Kingdome 35,233
 * 1-0
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2
 * October 12
 * Houston
 * W 114-103
 * Magic Johnson (30)
 * Jim Chones (11)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * The Forum 11,142
 * 2-0
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 3
 * October 15
 * @ Kansas City
 * W 112-107 (OT)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (31)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * Magic Johnson (14)
 * Kemper Arena 5,753
 * 3-0
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 4
 * October 17
 * Phoenix
 * W 116-109
 * Jamaal Wilkes (34)
 * Jim Chones (16)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * The Forum 10,411
 * 4-0
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 5
 * October 19
 * Golden State
 * W 125-107
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Mark Landsberger (12)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * The Forum 10,644
 * 5-0
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 6
 * October 21
 * @ Portland
 * L 103-107
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
 * Magic Johnson (5)
 * Memorial Coliseum 12,666
 * 5-1
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 7
 * October 24
 * Seattle
 * W 104-98
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Wilkes (26)
 * Jim Chones (15)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * The Forum 12,201
 * 6-1
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 8
 * October 25
 * @ Utah
 * W 127-99
 * Magic Johnson (33)
 * Mark Landsberger (12)
 * Magic Johnson (6)
 * Salt Palace 12,058
 * 7-1
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 9
 * October 26
 * San Antonio
 * L 102-108
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * The Forum 11,906
 * 7-2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 10
 * October 28
 * @ San Diego
 * W 131-101
 * Magic Johnson (29)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Landsberger (10)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * San Diego Sports Arena 8,663
 * 8-2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 11
 * October 31
 * Cleveland
 * W 107-98
 * Jamaal Wilkes (23)
 * Jim Chones (13)
 * Norm Nixon (8)
 * The Forum 9,728
 * 9-2


 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 12
 * November 2
 * Denver
 * L 121-123
 * Jamaal Wilkes (26)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * The Forum 11,661
 * 9-3
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 13
 * November 4
 * Portland
 * W 119-118
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * Jim Chones (12)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * The Forum 10,100
 * 10-3
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 14
 * November 7
 * @ Dallas
 * W 126-102
 * Magic Johnson (32)
 * Johnson & Landsberger (9)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * Reunion Arena 17,481
 * 11-3
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 15
 * November 8
 * @ San Antonio
 * L 109-112
 * Magic Johnson (28)
 * Chones & Johnson (10)
 * Norm Nixon (15)
 * HemisFair Arena 16,114
 * 11-4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 16
 * November 11
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 126-97
 * Jamaal Wilkes (22)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8)
 * Omni Coliseum 11,373
 * 12-4
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 17
 * November 12
 * @ Houston
 * L 104-107
 * Jamaal Wilkes (28)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * The Summit 11,527
 * 12-5
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 18
 * November 14
 * San Diego
 * W 113-100
 * Jamaal Wilkes (22)
 * Jim Chones (12)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * The Forum 11,808
 * 13-5
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 19
 * November 16
 * Dallas
 * W 110-102
 * Magic Johnson (24)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * The Forum 10,893
 * 14-5
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 20
 * November 18
 * Kansas City
 * W 107-94
 * Jamaal Wilkes (32)
 * Jim Chones (18)
 * Norm Nixon (14)
 * The Forum 10,169
 * 15-5
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 21
 * November 20
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 99-102
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Wilkes (29)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8)
 * Norm Nixon (7)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
 * 15-6
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 22
 * November 21
 * Phoenix
 * W 116-88
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (20)
 * Norm Nixon (7)
 * The Forum 14,164
 * 16-6
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 23
 * November 23
 * Milwaukee
 * L 94-110
 * Jamaal Wilkes (27)
 * Jim Chones (13)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6)
 * The Forum 14,814
 * 16-7
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 24
 * November 27
 * @ Golden State
 * W 128-119
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (40)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Chones (11)
 * Norm Nixon (12)
 * Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,564
 * 17-7
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 25
 * November 29
 * @ Denver
 * W 124-123 (2OT)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (30)
 * Jim Chones (15)
 * Norm Nixon (7)
 * McNichols Sports Arena 14,811
 * 18-7
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 26
 * November 30
 * Chicago
 * L 108-122
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * 3 players tied (9)
 * Eddie Jordan (9)
 * The Forum 13,605
 * 18-8


 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 27
 * December 3
 * San Diego
 * L 114-120
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)
 * Jim Chones (13)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7)
 * The Forum 9,346
 * 18-9
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 28
 * December 6
 * @ Golden State
 * L 103-119
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)
 * Jim Chones (9)
 * Norm Nixon (11)
 * Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,329
 * 18-10
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 29
 * December 7
 * Utah
 * W 113-100
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (17)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8)
 * The Forum 11,564
 * 19-10
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 30
 * December 9
 * @ Dallas
 * W 103-92
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Chones (11)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * Reunion Arena 9,313
 * 20-10
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 31
 * December 10
 * @ Houston
 * W 109-108
 * Jamaal Wilkes (32)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)
 * Norm Nixon (8)
 * The Summit 10,632
 * 21-10
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 32
 * December 12
 * @ Seattle
 * W 113-107
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)
 * Kingdome 22,448
 * 22-10
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 33
 * December 14
 * Golden State
 * W 122-113
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Jim Chones (11)
 * Norm Nixon (14)
 * The Forum 11,643
 * 23-10
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 34
 * December 16
 * @ San Diego
 * L 92-97
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)
 * Norm Nixon (8)
 * San Diego Sports Arena 9,044
 * 23-11
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 35
 * December 19
 * Portland
 * L 106-110
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34)
 * Jim Chones (13)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Forum 12,190
 * 23-12
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 36
 * December 21
 * San Antonio
 * W 135-122
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (42)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Forum 12,341
 * 24-12
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 37
 * December 23
 * @ Portland
 * L 102-108
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (42)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
 * Eddie Jordan (6)
 * Memorial Coliseum 12,666
 * 24-13
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 38
 * December 26
 * Indiana
 * W 116-115
 * Jamaal Wilkes (33)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
 * Norm Nixon (12)
 * The Forum 14,345
 * 25-13
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 39
 * December 27
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 106-116
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)
 * Jim Chones (10)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
 * 25-14
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 40
 * December 28
 * Philadelphia
 * W 122-116
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 26-14
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 41
 * December 30
 * @ Utah
 * L 100-110
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
 * Jim Chones (12)
 * Eddie Jordan (6)
 * Salt Palace 12,393
 * 26-15


 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 42
 * January 2
 * @ San Antonio
 * L 112-118
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (36)
 * Jim Chones (11)
 * Norm Nixon (15)
 * HemisFair Arena 14,722
 * 26-16
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 43
 * January 6
 * Washington
 * W 107-98
 * Norm Nixon (30)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16)
 * Norm Nixon (12)
 * The Forum 11,033
 * 27-16
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 44
 * January 9
 * Seattle
 * W 92-87
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * The Forum 12,596
 * 28-16
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 45
 * January 11
 * Detroit
 * W 117-108
 * Jamaal Wilkes (33)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Forum 11,195
 * 29-16
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 46
 * January 13
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 108-104
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Brewer (8)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * Richfield Coliseum 7,316
 * 30-16
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 47
 * January 14
 * @ Washington
 * L 104-114
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Cooper (10)
 * Norm Nixon (7)
 * Capital Centre 10,372
 * 30-17
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 48
 * January 16
 * @ New Jersey
 * W 113-111
 * Jamaal Wilkes (32)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
 * Norm Nixon (13)
 * Brendan Byrne Arena 8,462
 * 31-17
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 49
 * January 18
 * @ Boston
 * L 96-98
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
 * Eddie Jordan (5)
 * Boston Garden 15,320
 * 31-18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 50
 * January 21
 * Atlanta
 * W 116-106
 * Jamaal Wilkes (26)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
 * Michael Cooper (9)
 * The Forum 10,389
 * 32-18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 51
 * January 23
 * Denver
 * W 110-105
 * Jamaal Wilkes (30)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * The Forum 14,813
 * 33-18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 52
 * January 26
 * Portland
 * W 124-112
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
 * Norm Nixon (18)
 * The Forum 10,681
 * 34-18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 53
 * January 27
 * Utah
 * W 111-104
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)
 * Jim Chones (13)
 * Norm Nixon (12)
 * The Forum 10,453
 * 35-18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 54
 * January 29
 * Kansas City
 * W 118-104
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
 * Cooper & Nixon (10)
 * The Forum 11,058
 * 36-18


 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 55
 * February 4
 * @ Indiana
 * W 102-96
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16)
 * Michael Cooper (9)
 * Market Square Arena 15,966
 * 37-18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 56
 * February 6
 * @ Detroit
 * W 111-102
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
 * Eddie Jordan (12)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 12,205
 * 38-18
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 57
 * February 8
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 99-102
 * Jamaal Wilkes (28)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Nixon (5)
 * The Spectrum 18,276
 * 38-19
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 58
 * February 11
 * Boston
 * L 91-105
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
 * Michael Cooper (11)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 38-20
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 59
 * February 13
 * @ Houston
 * W 114-105
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Summit 13,985
 * 39-20
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 60
 * February 15
 * Dallas
 * W 107-99
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * The Forum 11,920
 * 40-20
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 61
 * February 17
 * New York
 * W 96-87
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * Michael Cooper (11)
 * Michael Cooper (9)
 * The Forum 13,279
 * 41-20
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 62
 * February 20
 * Houston
 * L 107-110
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (36)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
 * Norm Nixon (12)
 * The Forum 14,470
 * 41-21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 63
 * February 22
 * @ New York
 * W 96-93
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
 * Cooper & Landsberger (9)
 * Cooper & Nixon (7)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,591
 * 42-21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 64
 * February 24
 * @ Chicago
 * W 107-97
 * Norm Nixon (24)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
 * Norm Nixon (13)
 * Chicago Stadium 16,518
 * 43-21
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 65
 * February 25
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 108-126
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
 * Norm Nixon (8)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 43-22
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 66
 * February 27
 * New Jersey
 * W 107-103
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (11)
 * Cooper & Nixon (7)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 44-22


 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 67
 * March 1
 * Phoenix
 * L 96-101
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 44-23
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 68
 * March 3
 * @ Kansas City
 * W 99-98
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24)
 * 3 players tied (8)
 * Norm Nixon (8)
 * Kemper Arena 12,208
 * 45-23
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 69
 * March 4
 * @ Denver
 * L 114-123
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
 * Mark Landsberger (10)
 * Norm Nixon (7)
 * McNichols Sports Arena 14,840
 * 45-24
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 70
 * March 10
 * San Antonio
 * W 118-104
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35)
 * Magic Johnson (16)
 * Norm Nixon (13)
 * The Forum 16,703
 * 46-24
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 71
 * March 12
 * @ San Diego
 * W 122-116
 * Jamaal Wilkes (29)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * Magic Johnson (7)
 * San Diego Sports Arena 13,043
 * 47-24
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 72
 * March 13
 * Kansas City
 * W 116-101
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * Mark Landsberger (11)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 48-24
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 73
 * March 15
 * San Diego
 * L 118-122
 * Jamaal Wilkes (27)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)
 * Norm Nixon (12)
 * The Forum 15,560
 * 48-25
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 74
 * March 17
 * @ Dallas
 * W 114-109
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * Johnson & Nixon (7)
 * Reunion Arena 17,828
 * 49-25
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 75
 * March 18
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 114-126
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
 * 49-26
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 76
 * March 20
 * Seattle
 * W 133-119
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 50-26
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 77
 * March 21
 * @ Portland
 * W 117-111
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19)
 * Norm Nixon (15)
 * Memorial Coliseum 12,666
 * 51-26
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 78
 * March 22
 * @ Golden State
 * W 120-118
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * Norm Nixon (15)
 * Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,239
 * 52-26
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 79
 * March 24
 * Golden State
 * W 110-103
 * Johnson & Nixon (24)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 53-26
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 80
 * March 27
 * @ Seattle
 * W 97-90
 * Jamaal Wilkes (24)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * Kingdome 22,494
 * 54-26
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 81
 * March 28
 * @ Utah
 * L 110-112 (OT)
 * Magic Johnson (41)
 * Johnson & Landsberger (12)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * Salt Palace 12,383
 * 54-27
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 82
 * March 29
 * Denver
 * L 146-148 (OT)
 * Magic Johnson (33)
 * Magic Johnson (15)
 * Magic Johnson (17)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 54-28

Playoffs

 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 1
 * April 1
 * Houston
 * L 107–111
 * Magic Johnson (26)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Forum 15,517
 * 0–1
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2
 * April 3
 * @ Houston
 * W 111–106
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)
 * Magic Johnson (18)
 * Norm Nixon (11)
 * The Summit 16,121
 * 1–1
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 3
 * April 5
 * Houston
 * L 86–89
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (18)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * The Forum 14,813
 * 1–2

Player statistics
Note: GP= Games played; MPG= Minutes per Game; REB = Rebounds; AST = Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; PPG = Points per Game

Award winners/Honors

 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, First Team All-NBA, First Team All-Defense, All-Star
 * Michael Cooper, Second Team All-Defense
 * Jamaal Wilkes, All-Star